Pressure applying device for rotary power operated surfacing tools



IE. CAVICCHI Aug. 9, 1932.

. PRESSURE APPLYING DEVICE FOR ROTARY POWER OPERATED SURFACING TOOLS Filed Jan. 31, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTys.

mm mm ow QM NM QMW \nventm. Ercole Ccwucchi 1932- E. CVAVICCHI 1,871,042

PRESSURE APPLYING DEVICE FOR ROTARY POWER OPERATED SURFACING TOOLS Filed Jan. 31, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4.

52 51 YMMY QAQW Ahys.

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 unite stares ERCOLE CAVICGHI, F QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS V PRESSURE APPLYING DEVICE FOR ROTARY POWER OPERATED SURFAGING TOOLS 7 Application filed January 31, 1931. .Serial No. 512,72Q.

This invention relates to mechanisms for polishing or otherwise treating surfaces which are disposed substantially vertical with respect to a floor or other flat surface.

In the treatment of terrazzo, mosaic, wooden or other surfaces where a smooth and attractive finish is desired it is common practiceto employ a power driven rotating tool. To properly execute the grinding, polishing 10 or other treatment of the surface it is essential to maintain a considerable pressure'upon the tool. When grinding a horizontal s urface a part or all of the necessary pressure may be derived conveniently from the weight of the apparatus itself and the additional pressure necessary may be created by simply pressing upon the tool as it is moved over the work. To maintain the desired pressure when treating a vertical surface, such as a wall or-baseboard, the weight of the machine is not available to obtain the necessary pressure on the tool since the tool itself must be capable of motion in a vertical plane during its operation. The pressure of the tool upon the work must be supplied, therefore, by the operator who must bear upon the tool with a horizontal pressure. Such work is very laborious and limits the amount of surface that the operator is capable of treating within a given time. 7

The principal object-of the present invention is to'provide means for supplying a necessary pressure to the tool otherthan by muscular effort. 7

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a tool holding means'which is main-.

tained in yielding contact with and iscapable of following slight uneveness of the surface .panying drawings and will be particularly Qther objects and features of the invention Wlll more fully appear from the following description in connection with the accompointed out in the claims. v The particular type of work forwhioh the invention is especially adapted is that of grinding, polishing or otherwise treating vertical or substantially vertical surfaces which may be composed of any materialsuch, for instance, as terrazzo, vmosaic, concrete, wood, etc; The elementsgof the device consist of a tool shaft maintained in substantially perpendicular relation to the work supported by and ournalled in a casing having a tool connected to one of itsends. The casing extends at right angles to thet'ool shaft and is supported from a carriage which is freely movable upon a pair of wheels. The'carriage has mounted thereon an electric motor or other sourceof power which transmits'its power to the tool shaft by means of gearing and a drive shaft within the extension of the casing. The weight of the various elements is proper- 1y distributed to substantially balance about the axis of the shaft upon which the'wheels of the carriage are mounted. When the tool shaft is moved in a vertical plane the whole mechanism pivots'about the axis of the car- I riage wheels and when the tool is moved in so a horizontal direction the mechanism rolls uponthe wheels.

The outer end of the tool shaft casing'is provided with a resilient spring-actuated extension which engages a portable abutment presenting a flat surface of substantial area.

The abutment has .a base portionwhich' frictionally engages the floor. to anchor it temporarily thereto during the operation of the mechanism. The abutment desirably is provided with a seat upon which the operator may sit while operating the .device thereby utilizing his own weight to prevent relative movement of the abutment with the floor;- The abutment'is placed in such position that its vertical. face bears against the resilient extension of the tool shaftcasing with suiticient force to cause the tool to act yieldingly against'the work. I

In the drawings:

9 within a cylindrical asings which extends Fig. l is a side elevation of the apparatus 3 in position to operate upon a baseboard shown in cross section.

Fig.2 is a plan view of theabutment and a portion of the tool holding means.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 Fig. 1.

Fig. a is a side view of the device showing the parts in the position they assume when presure is applied to the tool. 7

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the con-' struction of the devicefor-controlling. the spring-actuated pressure applying means.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified construction of the device.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the devicepartial 1y broken away.

Fig. 8 is a crosssection on line 88 Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a: vertical cross section on line 9 -9Fig.7. 7

A preferred embodiment of the invention consistsof a carriage 1 mounted upon alpair 'of wheels2 journalled upon an axle 3. A

' substantially parallel to the. surface 10 to be.

treated and is fixed at one end inthecasing 8on the carriagel andjat its other end is fastened to a tool shaft supporting casing therefrom toward the surface 10 andan other; preferably cylindrical extension -16 shaft '14. The constructibn of this connec 11 disposed at right angles to and in a, sub-.

stantially horizontal position." .The construction thus far disclosed. is similar to that set-forth in the United: States Patent grantedto Ercole Cavicchi, No. 1,571,571.- The shaft 5 extends into.the casing-.11 and; has secured to its end :a .beveledge'a'r 12 meshingfwith a complementary'gear13 secured to the tool shaftl l'. L Thetoolshaft is thus rotated by means ofthe drivesha ft 5. through the gears12 and13. Thecas'ing 11 has acylindrical projection i 15 extendmg oppositelydisposed to the projection 15 and extending awayfrom tlie;work. For'pur-j poses or; assembly, the extension 16; may be secured removably to the easingll by. means engagement with the floor.

of the screws 17 The tool shaft lextends the casing. 11 andis j ournalled. at one end. in the 'extension 15 and at its other end inthe exten-,

sion 16. ,An anti friction thrust bearing. 18

is mounted in the extension 16 at the endof the shaft, 14 to absorb the end thrust set up tion desirably may be the same or similar to that disclosed in the patentgabove referred; V

- construction.

The extension 16 of the casing 11 is provided with an extension in the form of a sleeve 20 slidable thereon and extensible along the axis of the tool shaft 14. The outer end of the sleeve 20 is closed and is provided with an anti-friction means of any desired As herein shown the antifriction meansflcomprises a roll 21'rot'atably mounted in a bifurcated bracket 22 which is swiveled upon a base 23 secured to the sleeve 20.. The swivel connection desirably may be in the form of an anti-friction thrust hearing" 24 interposed between the bracket 22 and the base member.

Any desirable means may be used to establish a resilient connection between the sleeve 20 and the casing 11. As herein shown a spring 25 is located within the sleeve 20 bearing at its outer end against the closed end of the sleeve and engaging at its other end a spring seat 26 which is provided with an extension 27 projecting into a socket in the end of the projection 16. As the spring is compressed byth'e application of pressure upon the roll 21 the projection 16 telescopes within the sleeve,and when the pressure is relieved the sleeve is extended until the spring assumes its normal unstressed condition. Novel means are, .provided to establish and maintain the desired pressure of the tool upon the work while-it is in operation. Such means desirably consists of an abutment 28 presenting ,aflat vertical surface 29 which is placed in parallelrelation to thework and incontact with the roll21. To create the necessary yielding pressure upon the tool the abutment -may be forced against "the roll 21 which acts through the sleeve ,20 to contract the spring 25. 'The reaction of the spring through the casing 11'will then exert ,5

pressure upon the tool. Prefer a yielding ably, however, means areprovided tofcon tractthelspring before theabutmentis placedin position.v The springcontracting means'is then released to permit'thejforce of. the spring to act through the abutment to forcethe tool against thework. I :1

The abutment28 is provided with a base 30 which frictionally engages the floor or other surface from which the device is to-beoperated. To prevent movement of the abutment it is weighteddesirably toproduce frictional A convenient means for obtaining sufic ent weight is to utilize the weightgof the operator hi mself. To do this the base 30 provided with an upright 31 within which is. received adj ust ably a post 32 uponthe upper end ofwhich is received a seat 33. The height of the seat may be varied by moving thepost 32within the upright 31 and securingitin the desired position bymeans of the thumb nut 34L.

; The base 30 is extended laterally to pre-' sent two foot rest portions 35 upon which,

the operator places his feet as he sits on the Tel? seat 33 thereby utilizing his total weight to establish frictional engagement of the base of the-abutment with the floor Aplurality of pads 36 of suitable material adapted to increase the friction between the base and the floor may be fixed to the base 30. Other means than that above described may be used to temporarily afiix'the abutment 28 to the floor. a

In order to facilitate the process of placing the tool in operation means are provided for contracting the spring until such time as it is desired to transmitits expansive force to the tool. A pivotal connection is established upon the casing 11. This pivot may be formed in a boss integral with the casing or as shown herein it is locatedupon a bracket 38 which is a-djustably secured to the extension 15 of thecasing 11. The bracket 38 is of bifurcated construction and is provided with legs 39 which are shaped to conform with the periphery of the extension 15. The legs 39 are provided at their lower end with cars 40 in which is received a bolt'41 having a thumb nut 42 bymeans of which thebracket is secured in the desired position. The link 43 isconnected at one end to the bracket 38 at the: pivot point 37fand-extends in a direction away from the-tool 19 and is, connected at its other end to a lever 44 pivoted atthe point45 between its fulcrum point and an operating handle 46 at the end of the lever. The lever is fulcrumed at 48 on the sleeve 20 in a boss 49 extending therefrom. The bracket 38 serves alsoas a convenient point from which to supporta' tube 50 which delivers Water or other liquid to the tool. An

7 extension 51 of the bracket is provided for this purpose having a clamp 52 operated by a thumb nut 53 to secure the tube in its proper position. The tube is connected to a tank 54 on the carriage 1 bymeans of a flexible hose 55.

To" place the apparatus in operation the carriage 1 is moved into position adjacent the wall or baseboard to be treated in such positionthat the tool shaft 14 will be substan-' tially perpendicular to the surface 10 whenthe tool is in contacttherewith.

Fig. 1 wherein its point of connection 45 with the link 48 is slightly beyond aline" through the points 48 and 37 thus creating a movement of the lever into this position telescopes the sleeve 20 onto the extension 16 compressing the spring 25. At this time the abutment may be moved into contact with the roll 21 and the operator can take his position on the'seat. He then lifts the lever 44 breaking the toggle and. permitting thespring 25 to'force the tool against the work as shown in Fig. 4. The machine is then started and the operator from his position'on the seat 7 The lever 44 is then moved into the position shown inv grasps the sleeve 20 and movesthe tool over the surface being treated; The anti-friction device atthe end of the sleeve permits this to be done with a very slight effort. Horizontal motion is permitted by the carriage wheels 2.

When treatmentof an area of *thework within the area of the surface 24 of'the abutment has been completed the lever 44 is again pushed downwardly to relieve'the pressure on the tool. 1 The tool and the abutment may then be moved'into a new position to permit treatment of an untreated area. This process may be repeated until the whole surface ofthe desired area has been finished in the desired manner.

In place of the resilient sleeve .20 other means may be used to provide the necessary pressure on the tool; In Fig. 6 a novel construction is illustrated in the form of a removable'unit which may be attached to atool holding: casing not particularly designed for the purposesherein set forth, thereby converting such a casing'to the particular uses of the invention. Such a casing may be .similar in construction tovthe patent herein referred to and isdesignatedgenerally by connected by straight portions 62 through V which a bolt 63 projectsby means of which.

the strip may be contracted firmly about the projection57 and the collar 60. The collar 60 has an aperture therein extending parallel with the axis of the tool shaft 14 in which a rod 64 is slidably received. On the remote end of the rod is mounted an antifriction device 65 which maybe similar to thatupon the end' of the sleeve 20. The x anti-friction device bears against the surface 29 of theabutinent. On therod be tween the anti-friction deviceand the collar 60 is mounted aspring 66 which normally actstoextend the rod outwardly away from the tool. i T

The .action of the spring 66 is controlled bya lever 67 pivoted at 68 in the bifurcated end of the rod 64 which projects through the collar 60. The lever 67 is shaped to present a cam face 69 which' acts upon the end face ofthecollar 60 to draw the rod through the collar thus contracting the spring 66. Such contraction of the spring is accomplished by movingthe lever 67 into the full line position shown in Fig.6. When it is desired to transfer the tension of the spring through. the abutment to the tool, the lever is thrown into the dotted line position.

" in perpendicular relationto the'work during Thusm'eanslare provided to apply the pres;

ent invention to the construction as shown in the prior Patent No. 1,571,571 above mentionedlxw Q e 2 Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: I

1. A pressure applying :mechanism for forcing Y a tool into engagement 5 with a verticalsurface to be treated, comprising an abutment presenting a surface substantially parallel to said vertical surface,a horizontal tool holding means having a tool .at one end and means at itsother end to engage said abutment and resilient means between the tool and the abutment engaging means whereby when said tool holder is placed be-; tween the work and said-abutment said resilient means will 'force the tool yieldingly against the work. 1 r 2. A pressurerapplying mechanismhfor a tool, comprising asupporting member for the tool, a relatively movable "spring-actuated member extensible in the directionof the aXis of said'tool' and having means to engage an abutment and'manually operable means for controlling said'extenslble member whereby upon release of SZIICl controlling means after en agement of the abutment with said exten-v sible member the tool will be yieldably forced against the work. V

3;A'pressureapplying mechanism for a rotary tool comprising a isupporting'member for'the to ol,"power-actuated means for rotatmg said tool, a spring-actuated pressure member slidabIy' mounted on said tool supporting member and "extensible therefrom substantially the direction of the 'axisof said tool, means. thereon to engage an' abutment, saidpressure member being operablewhen the tool support is placed "between the abutment and-the WOrk' t fQr eLthe i001 yiel ingly agaiinst'the Work. a

4. pressure applying mechanismf for" forcing a tool iintovengagementn'wlth a substantially verticalsurfa ce to be treated com prising a resilient means eiitensible'in the direction of the line of application of pressure and ha ving'a tool atone end and antifriction means at-its other end, said anti friction means operableto engage an abutment, meansto drive saidtool and movable supporting "means'acting to maintain said toolholder substantially perpendicular to'the' work whereby when placedbetween' the work and the abutment the resiliency of thetool holder-will act to force the tool yieldingly against the work and saidmovable supportingmeans will act to maintain 'the'tool holder the movement of the toolover the area ofthe' surface belng treated. v I I 5, A mechanism for operating upon work located in proximity to: and substantially perpendicular to 'a' floor comprislng awheel sure applying supported carriage, a horizontal tool shaft mounted upon said carriage, a tool connected to'one endof said tool shaft, means-for rotating saidtool shaft, a spring-actuated pressure applying means mounted on said'carriage normallyextended therefrom in the direction of the axis" of said tool and provided at its remote end with anti-friction means to engage an abutment, a movable abutment presenting a surface substantially parallel to the workto engage the-end of said pressure applying means and provided with a base having means to engage the floor with suflicient force to prevent substantial movement thereof, said pressure-applying means being operablewhen the tool shaft isplaced'between the work and the abutment to force the tool yieldingly against the work.

6. A mechanism for operating ,uponwork located in proximity to and substantially perpendicular to a floor comprising a wheelsupported carriage, a horizontal tool'shaft mounted upon said carriage, a tool connected to one'end of said shaft, means for rotating upon said carriage V applying-means operable to permit saidabutment to be locatedin such positiontliatupon release of said compressing means a desired pressure will be appliedto the toolwhe'n the 7 tool shaft is placed between'the work and abutment. or

' 7. mechanismforoperating work located substantially perpendicular to the-floor comprising -'a wheel supported carriage, a horizontal tool shaft mounted 'upon said car-i riage, a tool connected to one 'endof said tool shaft, means for rotating-said tool shafttfa sp'ringeactuated' [pressure applying means mountedu'ponsaid carriage normallv extending there'f-r'omin the direction of'axis of said": tool shaft and provided at its end remote from said tool "with anti-friction "meanstol' engage an abutment, a movable tool yieldingly ag'ainstthe work. 'f j abutment prsenting an extended surface substantially parallel to the Work 'a-ndhaving a base'en gaging the floorand a seatfor the operator" mounted'on'sai'dbase whereby when said tool shaft. is placedbetween theflwork and said abutment the operator'by grasping saidpr'es means may move the tool over the work and 'during "such movement said; pressure applying meanswill act to force the 6 in engagement with the abutment the tool 8. A portable surfacing machine comprising a whcelcarriage, a surfacing tool having a shaft mounted at one end of said carriage, an electric motor mounted on said carriage, means for driving said tool shaft from said motor, the axle for the Wheels of said carriage lying in proximity to the vertical plane of the center of gravity of the machine, spring-actuated pressure applying mechanism extensible in substantially the direction of the axis of said tool shaft having means to engage an abutmentand a portable abutment adapted to be positioned to present a surface substantially parallel to the surface to be treated whereby when said tool shaft is placed between the work and said abutment said pressure applying means will act to force the tool yieldingly against the work. a

9. A mechanism for treating surfaces located substantially perpendicularto a floor or other flat surface comprising a wheel supported carriage, a casing mounted on said carriage, a horizontal shaft rotatably n1ounted in the casing, a tool connected to one end thereof, means on the carriage acting to ro-- tate the tool shaft, a springactuated pressure applymg means mounted on said casing normally extended therefrom in the direc tion of the axis of said tool shaft and provided at its end remote from the tool with anti-friction means to engage an abutment, aportable abutment presenting a surface substantially parallel to the surface to be treated and having a base by means of which it may be temporarily secured to the floor whereby when said casing carrying the tool shaft isplaced between the work and the abutment with said pressure applying means will be forced yieldingly against the work while it is moved over the area of the work by the operator. I

10, A mechanism for treating surfaces substantially perpendicular to a floor or other flat surfaces comprising a wheel-supported carriage, a horizontal movable tool shaft, a source of power on said carriage, a means including gearing acting to drive said tool shaft from said power source, a casing connected to the carriage enclosing the gears and supporting said tool shaft in a horizontal position, a cylindrical projection on said casing extending axially of said tool shaft, a sleeve having a closed outer end slidably mounted on said extension a spring interposed between the closed end of said sleeve and the end of said extension, anti-friction means on the outer end of said sleeve to engage an abutment, a portable abutment vpresenting a surface substantially parallel to the surface. to be treated whereby when the tool shaft is placed in operative position with the tool against'the work and the abutment is moved into position to compress the spring within the sleeve the tool will be held yieldingly against the work. 11; A mechanism for treating surfaces located substantially perpendicular to a floorv or other flat surface comprising a wheel-supported carriage,a horizontal movable tool shaft, a vsource of power on the carnage,

means including gearing acting to drive said tool shaft from said power source, a casing connected to the carriage enclosing the gears and supporting the tool shaft in a horizontal outer end of said sleeve to engage an abutment,a portable abutmentpresenting a surface substantially parallel'to the surface to be treated and manually operable means connected to said casing and said sleeve operable to contract said spring to permit said abutment to be located in such position that said tool shaft" may be positioned between the abutment and the work and thatupon relea'seof said manually operable spring contractlng means a desired pressure will be applied to the tool.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

RooLE' CAVICCHI. 

